Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (2013)
Summary of the Book
Eleanor & Park is a young adult novel by Rainbow Rowell, first published in 2013. The book tells the story of two teenagers, Eleanor and Park, who fall in love in the late 1980s against the backdrop of poverty, family problems, bullying, and racism. The novel follows the couple as they navigate the challenges of first love, while also dealing with the difficulties of their home lives.
At the beginning of the book, Eleanor is a new student at Park’s high school. Park is an Asian-American and Eleanor is a half-Korean, half-Caucasian teenager. Park is instantly drawn to Eleanor, but it takes Eleanor time to warm up to Park and the other students at the school. The two eventually become friends and then, slowly, something more.
Throughout the novel, Eleanor and Park face a number of challenging issues. Eleanor’s family is poverty-stricken, and she deals with an emotionally abusive stepfather. Park’s family is more financially secure, but his parents struggle to understand him, and he is constantly facing racial prejudice. On top of this, the couple must contend with bullying from their classmates, who don’t understand their relationship.
The novel is set in the late 1980s, and this setting is integral to the story. The novel is as much about coming of age in the Reagan era as it is about first love. The music, fashion, and culture of the era all play an important role in the book.
Eleanor & Park is a powerful and moving story of first love. It tackles a number of difficult issues, from poverty and racism to bullying and family problems. Despite the difficult topics, it is ultimately a story of hope and redemption, as Eleanor and Park find a way to be together and overcome their struggles.
Interesting Facts about the Book
Eleanor & Park is Rainbow Rowell’s second novel, after Attachments. It was an instant success, and it has been adapted into a graphic novel, as well as a play. The novel has also been nominated for a number of awards, including the 2014 Michael L. Printz Honor, the 2014 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, and the 2014 Massachusetts Book Award.
The novel is set in Omaha, Nebraska, where Rowell grew up. She drew on her own experiences to create the novel, including her own high school crush, who she dedicated the book to. Rowell has said that the novel is a love letter to all the misfits out there.
Rowell has said that she was inspired to write the novel by the song Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles. She loved the song, and was fascinated by the idea of two people with the same name falling in love. She also drew inspiration from the classic novel Romeo and Juliet, as well as the 1980s movie Say Anything.
FAQs
- What is Eleanor & Park about?
Eleanor & Park is a young adult novel by Rainbow Rowell about two teenagers, Eleanor and Park, who fall in love in the late 1980s against the backdrop of poverty, family problems, bullying, and racism. - Where is the novel set?
Eleanor & Park is set in Omaha, Nebraska, where author Rainbow Rowell grew up. - What awards has the book been nominated for?
Eleanor & Park has been nominated for a number of awards, including the 2014 Michael L. Printz Honor, the 2014 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, and the 2014 Massachusetts Book Award. - What was Rainbow Rowell’s inspiration for the novel?
Rowell was inspired to write the novel by the song Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles, as well as the classic novel Romeo and Juliet, and the 1980s movie Say Anything.